Possible ICE activity prompts shelter-in-place at 6 Seattle schools

Six Seattle schools were sheltering in place on Tuesday after possible U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activity.

Mercer International Middle School, Aki Kurose Middle School, Cleveland STEM High School, Maple Elementary, Dearborn Park International, and Beacon Hill International all sheltered in place after being notified by Seattle Public Schools (SPS) of potential enforcement activity in the area, according to a statement from SPS.

Earlier today, several schools enacted a shelter‑in‑place after receiving unconfirmed community reports of possible Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activity in the surrounding area. A shelter‑in‑place is a standard safety practice often used when there is any reported law enforcement activity nearby.

During shelter‑in‑place, students continue their regular class schedules but remain inside the building. Seattle Public Schools Safety and Security staff have been present throughout the day and have not observed any ICE presence. Staff remain on alert as a precaution.

Several schools were affected including Mercer International Middle School, Aki Kurose Middle School, Cleveland STEM High School, Maple Elementary, Dearborn Park International, and Beacon Hill International. Aki Kurose lifted its shelter in place at noon, Cleveland lifted its shelter‑in‑place after lunch, and the remaining schools will do so at regular dismissal.

School leaders are communicating directly with their communities, and the district will follow up with a districtwide communication,” school officials stated.

SPS notified the middle school that ICE agents may attempt to draw out families who were warned of the activity and were arriving at the school to pick up their children, an Aki Kurose registrar, Katie Jolgren, said, according to The Seattle Times.

Seattle schools lock down, implement security protocols

The shelter-in-place order went into effect at approximately 12 p.m. and was anticipated to last until the end of the day. All school doors were locked, and students were required to remain inside. Students were only allowed to leave school premises if a family member came to pick them up.

Jolgren noted that concerned family members had called the school, and other parents picked up their children out of an abundance of caution. Additionally, all available security staff were monitoring the pick-up and drop-off locations.

After classes were let out at Aki Kurose Middle School, several parents and concerned neighbors traveled to the school grounds in case any ICE agents converged on the school.

“Just instantly protective mode,” Anna Copley, a neighbor, told KIRO Newsradio. “I have a couple of kids, and I feel defensive, like we have to protect these young people and these families.”

“I’m here to protect my community,” Natayla McConnel, another nearby neighbor, said. “I heard there was ICE in the area, and I don’t want any of the kids at Aki, or their parents, to get taken because ICE is kidnapping our community members.”

The Cleveland STEM High School was also placed on a shelter-in-place order for the rest of the day because of “credible reports of ICE activity in the community and possibly at other school campuses,” principal Jeff Lam stated in an email, according to The Seattle Times.

Lam also confirmed in the email that the ICE activity was reported at additional campuses, though it was not witnessed at Cleveland High School.

As a result, all doors at Cleveland High School were locked, and students were ordered to remain on campus during lunch. Staff were also watching parts of the campus, and would open the doors for students between each period. Students of the high school were allowed to leave if their parents arrived to pick them up.

The principal, Daisy Barragan, sent a message to all Maple Elementary School families, stating that the school was under a shelter-in-place order.

Other schools in the area, including Franklin High School, Dunlap Elementary School, Mercer International Middle School, Mercer Island High School and Middle School, and Alki Elementary School, stated that they were not sheltering in place and were not aware of the ongoing ICE activity in the area.

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